Now, flying robots will help to transport heavy loads.
According to the patent application, Amazon plans to establish a mobile station to launch their drones from trains, trucks and ships.
“The intermodal vehicle can be loaded with items and air vehicle and directed to areas where there is a demand for goods, the application says. The intermodal vehicle can be connected with locomotives, container ships, road tractors or other vehicles and are equipped with loading and unloading aircraft, and its launch during the movement of intermodal vehicles.”
The key issue of any operator of drones charging and maintenance: the smaller the battery, the less orders, the robot can deliver at a time without returning to base. However, judging by a recent patent filing, Amazon has a solution — the mobile station.
In a statement issued on 1 August on the website of the patent office of the United States, refers to the inter-modality of these platforms, that is, Amazon wants you to place them on other forms of transport — trains, trucks and ships.
Simply put, drones are loaded on train or truck for delivery to more remote areas to get goods to customers, return to base, and then to come back to the headquarters of Amazon or another hub. In addition, it is expected that drones will be loaded with spare parts to repair other drones while they take the train or a wagon.
